Pictures

Undersea Volcano Erupts

March 19, 2009 / 11:56 AM EDT / CBS News

An undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga, tossing clouds of smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. The eruption was at sea about 6 miles from the southwest coast off the main island of Tongatapu, an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered.

Spectators watch as an undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga, Wednesday, March 18, 2009.

An undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga, Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

An undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga, tossing clouds of smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, as seen in this image taken from the capital, Nuku'alofa.